NEW DELHI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- India's main opposition Congress party and Pakistan have hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for suggesting Islamabad's interference in assembly polls in his homestate of Gujarat at a political rally.
Addressing the rally in Gujarat's Palanpur Sunday, Modi alleged that Pakistan was meddling in the elections to the state assembly, linking it to a dinner hosted by senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for top leaders of the opposition party and Pakistani officials last week.
But senior Congress leader Anand Sharma Monday said the Pakistani officials were in India last week to attend a wedding and the dinner hosted by Aiyar at his home in Delhi was attended by some retired Indian diplomats and military officials too.
"It is highly irresponsible and outrageous on the part of the Prime Minister to make such a statement. We do not need a certificate of patriotism from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Modi should apologise to the Congress," he told the media.
Even Pakistan has dismissed Modi's allegations and urged the Indian Prime Minister to win domestic polls "on own strength."
"India should stop dragging Pakistan into its electoral debate and win victories on own strength rather than fabricated conspiracies, which are utterly baseless and irresponsible," Pakistan's foreign office tweeted.
